Frog Awareness Program Offered at the Cradle of Forestry

A February program at the Cradle of Forestry will explore how frogs come out of their hiding places to find mates and lay eggs in woodland waters.

The program — whimsically named “Frog Love in the Pink Beds” in honor of Valentine’s Day — will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 12.

The program begins in the Forest Discovery Center with an introduction to Pink Beds history and amphibians through song. Then a naturalist will interpret the natural history of the Carolina wood frogs that breed nearby and give us the hope of spring. Included will be a discussion of vernal pools and how people can help conserve frogs and other amphibians. While all are welcome, the one-hour indoor portion of the program will be oriented to adults.

One frog breeding pool is directly behind the Forest Discovery Center. If the timing is not right for seeing and hearing frogs, it may be right for seeing eggs. Either way, participants will see an example of how frogs take advantage of a small water feature, even manmade. Comparisons will be made to the previous three years the frogs have been monitored this same weekend.

If the weather is inviting, those who would like to walk can join a guided ramble looking for frog habitats and other features of the February woods, returning by 4 p.m. The program will take place rain or shine, and will be cancelled if winter weather makes travel to the Cradle difficult. Call 828.877-.3130 if in doubt.

The fee for this program is $5 per adult. Admission is free for youth under age 16 and America the Beautiful and Golden Age Passport holders.

The Cradle of Forestry is located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, N.C., on U.S. 276, 11 miles from the intersection of Highways 280, 64, and U.S. 276 and four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.